The former England Under-21 international has also had spells with Stoke City, Birmingham, Wolves, Spanish side Real Zaragoza and FC Pune City in India.

But off the field, he has had a number of disciplinary issues and in 2005, while on loan from Arsenal at Birmingham, played wearing an electronic tag after being freed from jail for drink-driving.

Tampines chairman Krishna Ramachandra would not give details of his salary, telling reporters it was a "sexy" figure.

"The financial component [of the contract] is one not typical to what we traditionally pay our players," he said last week, before the deal had been finalised. "We've been fortunate that a couple of sponsors have stepped up to absorb the cost associated with the signing-on."

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